Asking prices fall

House prices slip

Asking prices fell by 0.3% in August according to Rightmove, as demand fell slightly for larger homes. It’s the first time this year that asking prices have fallen. A dip in asking prices usually reflects a decline in confidence among home sellers. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reported the same trend last week. They reckon the end of big stamp duty savings in June has meant fewer people are looking to buy.

Overtime epidemic

Working from home during the pandemic has caused an “epidemic of hidden overtime” according to thinktank Autonomy. It says mental distress and negative health impacts are on the rise, particularly for women. It’s calling for a right to disconnect, with no obligation to respond to work calls or messages outside of working hours.

Crackdown on greenwashing

The government is set to investigate energy deals which claim to be climate-friendly but fail to walk the walk. 9 million British households are currently on green tariffs, but firms are allowed to label tariffs “100% green” even if some of the energy comes from fossil fuels.

Japan’s Olympic recovery

Japan’s economy bounced back twice as fast as predicted in the run-up to this summer’s Olympics. Individuals and businesses spent big in April to June, helping to propel the world’s third-largest economy to 1.3% growth. However, its recovery is still slower than other advanced economies’ like the US.